Plant protector



R. A'. MILLER PLANT PROTECTOR Sept. 4, 1928.

Filed Feb. 28, 1927 INVENTEI E.

6% a W F 44 ATTEJRNEYE Patented Sept. 4, 1 92 8.

* UNITED STATE 1,683,043 PATENT OFFICE.

301mm: A. MILLER, or PEKINfILLI NOIS.

PLANT PROTECTOR.

Application filed February 28, 1927. Serial No. 171,429.

. ing the gardening operation, thereby savmg Ill considerable time eration. V H

Anotherobject is in the provisron of a plurality of rod members having their plural in the plant-covering opend portions attached in such manner that they are not only adapted to collapse but also to receive a plant covering fabric, thereon, said covering being also adapted to collapse with said rod members into a very small space.

Still another object is in the provision of plural rod members, and a covering. therefor, said rod membersbeing connected at then upper ends in such manner that they are capable of being either extended to a plant covering position, or collapsed in such manner that a gardener may carry a large number in h1s arm during the gardening operation.

A further object lies in the provision of a simple plant protector device, the same comprising three rod members attached 1n such manner at their upper endsthat they may be collapsed, a flexible covering for saidrods providing a protecting means for young plants, attachment means being provlded on the rod members, to which attachment means the fabric may be suitably fastened.

Other objects will appear in the following specification, taken in connection with the am. nexed drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing the plurality of rod members of the plant protector in an extended position;

Fig. 2 is a plan view, from above, of the parts shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail of the connecting means for the upper ends of the rod members' Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing my plant protector in a collapsed positlon; and

Fig. 5 is a side elevation, partially n sec tion, showing the manner of disposing my plant protector over the young plant and the position same assumes with relation to the ground.

Before referring specifically to the drawings, it might be stated that applicant has had a great many years experience in garden ng, and has found that due to climatic conditions he was unable to get upon the market'with hisproduce until about the same time as all other gardeners in his locality, because of the fact that weather conditions necessitate planting by all gardeners at about the same time. 4

At one time or another, applicant has cov cred young plants by means of boxes, bottles, cans, etc. toprotect them. from the elements, but such means for protecting samewas :accompanied by many difliculties, in View of the fact that it was impossible for him to carry such type of protector devices in sufiicient numbers in his arm ashe moved from plant toplant.

, Applicant also had knowledge of plant protector means comprising rod members that were covered by either fabrics or other material, which were adopted'to be, placed over young plants. However, even with theknowledge of such devices, he still considered same unsuited for his work, in view of the fact that he was cultivating a large number of plants, and itwas necessary not only to protect same, but to accomplish this protection quickly.

Applicant finally devised the present plant protector device, which he found would not only permit him toplant several weeks earlier than other gardeners, thus insuring an earlier production, and therefore enabling him to ob tain a higher price for his produce, but also to accomplish this plant protection in a short time, in view of the fact that he was able to carry a great number of his plant protector members in his arm as he moved from one plant to another.

In the drawings, there is shown a plurality '7 of rod members 10 having the attachment members or'loop members 11 formed integrally therewith, as may be clearly seen in the drawings, said members 11 being adapted to receive any suitable attachment means, such as a string 12, that is also connected to a fabric covering portion 18. This fabric covering is flexible, and is disposed over the plurality of rod members in the manner clearly shown in Fig. 5.

The upper ends of the plural rods 11 are connected in the manner shown perhaps most clearly in Fig. 3, where one of the rods is shown with the eye portion 1 1 and the adjacent rod members having the smaller eye portions which engage the first mentionedeye portion 14, said engagement permitting collapsing of the rods to a position shown most i ,m aoe clearlyin Fig. 5}, Where same assume substam tightly about the rod members in such manner that the plant protector will assume a) very small space, at leastas respects its ex- 7 l tially parallel positions and lie one against the other.

The flexible fabric 13, said rods 91 in collapsed position, also collapses 1n the manner shown in Fig. 5 and may be folded tended or operative position, as shown in Fig, 5., The operator, asmay be "clearlyseen, may can inhis one arm' a considerable number of t ese plant-protector members, and with his other hand place same over the young plants, forcing the lower ends'of the rods firmlyinto the groundwat spaced distances aboutthe-plant.

"In this manner, the plants may beproteeted fromadverse climatictconditions and not only members, means for connecting same atftheii' each other, comprisi members to permit the sa e W 4 the rod members when the frame collapsed,

PPQ fin -as eep L p t ere of i o apositipn vlil ere t ey li d a' tliacent an enlarged eye port'gp {o -o t; L pp s andsmalle'r eye portions for tile a acent rods, said portions be- .ingfldlpted to engage the first named enlarged eye portion, and a flexible detachable ,ooverin for the ro'dsltdapted to fold tightly abouttie rod members when in their c o pm positiom ,2. A plant protector frame, coin risin a said rod members having an enlarged e e per; $101! formed on its upper end, the remainder of saidjrod members 'ieach haying its i 19! end formed with an-eye-pertion of sm'a diameter than the first named eye portion and inter-engaged with the Platter" whereby the rod members may be movedflto a positionfad j'acent to and substantiall parallel with eaeh other to collapse thefr'am {and a flexible eevf Ver'ing disposed over the frame and;

to the intermediatedoo portions of "o befolded about n st ny he ia f' here he ein? v V 40 plurality of rod members each llavi I g a: 00 o member formed intermediateits ends, one o 

